install.packages("tidyverse")Stat 541 Set-up & Workflow
Your workflow refers to the series of good habits you get into in your coding process, that help save you time and headache down the road.
This document outlines our suggestions for getting going with your workflow. None of these items is required for the course; they will simply make your life easier down the road.
1 Updating R
Check your version of R. (This shows up in the console when you first open R or RStudio.) Ideally, it should be 4.3.3 (Angel Food Cake). If this is the case, you are golden.
The easiest way to update R is to simply redownload it and then close and re-open RStudio.
Multiple Versions of R
If you are working on a PC, your program files will keep multiple versions of R. Even worse, you will sometimes install the latest version of R and your RStudio will still say that you didn’t update R. Be sure when you update R to delete previous versions that you don’t want RStudio to mistakenly use!
Troubleshooting
If your computer cannot install the most recent version of R, please contact Dr. Theobold!
2 Updating RStudio
RStudio can be downloaded here
The most recent version of RStudio is 2023.12.1+402. You can check if you are using the most recent version of RStudio by:
- Opening RStudio
- Clicking on “Help”
- Selecting “Check for Updates”
- Choosing “Quit and Download” if there is an update available
3 Installing / Updating the tidyverse
In this class, we will make heavy use of the tidyverse packages.
If you have not used the tidyverse before, type the following into your console:
If you have used the tidyverse before, you only need to update packages. Type the following into your console:
library(tidyverse)
tidyverse_update()Then follow the instructions that print out to update a few of your tidyverse packages.
4 Configure your options
There are a few settings we recommend that you change right away in RStudio.
R Workspace
First, you should not save your environment when you close RStudio:
Code Chunk Output
Second, make a deliberate choice about where your chunks will evaluate when you run that. That is, if you reference files, are you referencing them relative to your Project, or relative to your Quarto Document (which might live in a subfolder or even outside the project).
5 Project-based workflow
We strongly recommend that you adopt a project-oriented approach to your R work. That is, you should never open R or RStudio directly; you should only open the project you intend to work on.
This resource provides an excellent explanation of why and how to use projects.
6 Using GitHub
This course will require some basic use of GitHub. You may find that you want to incorporate it more deeply into your R experience.
This resource can help you integrate R and GitHub more fully, if you so choose.